Story by Rhiannon Kirkland, Illustrations by Jen Grond Editorial and Letters Editor-In-Chief: Cam Cotton-O’Brien 220-7752 [email protected]
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81,9(56,7<2)&$/*$5< 92/80( _ ,668( 12 _ -81( _ I WWANTANT OOUTUT hen Josh Stieber to separate out the people he was supposed to 5,000 miles by foot and bicycle, and expects was deployed in be fi ghting from civilians. to take eight months. February 2007 as “You don’t know who’s going to attack you “If I’m saying the military is the wrong way a part of the surge and a lot of times, when you get hit or attacked, to solve problems, then I need to show what in Iraq, he was un- you don’t even see who did it,” said Stieber. the right answer is,” he said. “So this trip is aware that what he “Oft en times you end up attacking and hurting about visiting a lot of diff erent organizations Wwas going to experience would change who the people who had nothing to do with it. that focus on bringing people together and he was and how he saw the world. He came “I learned a lot more about people and being proactive and dedicated to solving back transformed, an advocate of non-vio- that it doesn’t matter what country you’re problems in the world non-violently.” lence and opposed to the surge he had been from or if you have a uniform on or not, it’s As Stieber travels across the U.S., he plans a part of. about how you treat people,” he continued. to showcase 12 charitable organizations. He Stieber joined the U.S. Army thinking that “I guess the idea of trying to force everyone selected organizations with goals ranging he was going to prevent terrorism and liberate into liking you or agreeing with you is not from childhood cancer fundraising to recy- the Iraqi people. the way to go about things and often cre- cling old bicycles to micro-lending. “I saw things very black and white, like I ates more enemies and more problems than “My first focus was illustrating the power thought that pretty much whatever my coun- it solves.” of individuals and showing that it’s not only try decided to do was going to be the right Stieber was in Iraq for 14 months. Dur- the government or the president or the gen- answer and thought that, you know, because ing his deployment he was an infantryman erals — or whatever — who make decisions of 911, any action that we took would be justi- working as a Humvee driver, gunner, de- and who affect things, but that common fi ed,” said Stieber. tainee guard and radio operator. ordinary people can change things,” said Stieber’s experiences in Iraq made him Stieber’s tour, which started May 27, is to Stieber. “I tried to look for organizations question such beliefs. He found that the promote non-violence and alternatives to that brought people together.” asymmetrical nature of the war made it hard force. He plans to cover between 4,000 and see STEIBER, page 3 Story by Rhiannon Kirkland, Illustrations by Jen Grond editorial and letters Editor-in-Chief: Cam Cotton-O’Brien 220-7752 [email protected] News Editor: Katy Anderson 220-4318 How the U of C ruined our summer vacation [email protected] Entertainment: Jordyn Marcellus 220-4376 t’s never too long into the win- of sun, knowing the exam sched- [email protected] ter semester that I begin to get ule early is incredibly benefi cial. Sports: Jon Roe 220-2298 antsy to leave the city come Th at way they are able to tell their [email protected] I Opinions: Ryan Pike 220-2298 spring and summer. Th is year, un- employers when they can work far [email protected] fortunately, my schedule demanded enough in advance that they avoid Features: Sarelle Azuelos 220-4376 that I take a spring class. As such, scheduling errors and the hassle of [email protected] I had to postpone my exodus until trying to get a shift covered. Photography: Chris “Doc” Pedersen 220-4376 aft er the fi nal exam for that course While planning exams is clearly [email protected] was written. I didn’t want to hang a labour-intensive task for the reg- Production: Ændrew Rininsland 220-2298 around the city any longer than I istrar, it remains the case that it [email protected] had to and with work requiring that is their job to do so, hopefully in a Illustrations: Jen Grond 220-2298 [email protected] I return to Calgary immediately af- timely fashion. Certainly for spring Business Manager: Evelyn Cone 220-7380 ter the Stampede, I planned to leave and summer courses, it is simply too [email protected] the day of my exam, if possible. inconvenient and may carry heavy fi - Advertising Manager: John Harbidge 220-7751 So began my wait. nancial and scheduling consequenc- [email protected] Everyone knows that a plane tick- es for students when they can’t fi nd Graphic Artist: Ken Clarke 220-7755 et bought far in advance is cheaper out the date and time of their exam [email protected] than one purchased in the few until barely a month prior. Network Manager: Ben Li weeks leading up to the fl ight. Th is In the future it would be helpful Contributors Laura Bardsley • Roy Cotton-O’Brien • Rhiannon Kirkland in mind, I was dismayed when I for students if exam schedules were Meagan Meiklejohn • Daniel Pagan • Adriana Sveen Andrew Swan • the lens of Chris Tait • Tristan Taylor found that the exam schedule would posted as soon as possible. For the Viewers Like You • Andy Williams • Katherine Zelt not be posted until the third week spring and summer semesters, post- Golden Spatula(s) of the spring semester. Th e semes- ing the exam schedules with class The Entertainment section brought the awesome this week. ter condensed as it is, this meant One may argue that such a prob- which to travel, it was unreasonable registration information would be Furor Arma Ministrat Room 319, MacEwan Students’ Centre I was forced to watch my fl ight’s lem could be mitigated by simply to choose so pragmatically. Th us, ideal. Th en students may fi nd a cost University of Calgary 2500 University Drive, NW cost steadily rise while I sat help- scheduling a fl ight for the last day of the tardiness of the exam schedule’s eff ective way to avoid the 10 days Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 General inquires: 220-7750 lessly waiting for the information I exams, but then if the fi nal wound posting delayed my travel plans and when this city goes temporarily in- http://www.thegauntlet.ca needed to plan my trip. Th e fact that up being on the fi rst day, up to three led to way higher airfares. sane and everyone falls under the il- The Gauntlet is the offi cial student newspaper of the University of Calgary, published most Thursdays throughout the year by the Gauntlet Publications Society, an autonomous, incorporated body. Membership in the society is open to undergraduate students at the exam schedules aren’t posted until days may have been wasted sitting Th e problem is not merely lim- lusion that they are cowboys. U of C, but all members of the university community are encouraged to contribute. Opinions contained herein are those of individual writers, and do not necessarily represent the views of the entire Gauntlet staff. Editorials are chosen by a majority of the editorial board. half-way through the semester liter- around in Calgary with no work and ited to those planning trips for the The Gauntlet is a forum open to all U of C students but may refuse any submission judged to be racist, sexist, homophobic, libelous, or containing attacks of a strictly personal nature. We reserve the right to edit for brevity. Grievances regarding the ally meant the ticket price went up no school. It would be cheaper, but, summer. For students needing to Cam Cotton-O’Brien Gauntlet follow a three-step process which requires written decisions from the Editor, the GPS Board of Directors, and the Ombudsboard. The complete Grievance Policy is online at: www.thegauntlet.ca. The Gauntlet is printed on recycled paper and a couple hundred dollars. working with such a limited time in work during the precious months Editor-in-Chief uses policy vassel-based ink. We urge you to recycle/be next door to the Gauntlet. GAUNTLET JUNE 11.09 3 news Editor: Katy Anderson—[email protected] Canadian students discuss education policy Post-secondary kids meet at the U of C to decide what to lobby the government for Ryan Pike that goes to our policy committee, Opinions Editor where our policy committee chair is elected and any member can sit on tudent leaders from across the policy committee to formulate Canada descended on MacE- all the policies about it.” S wan Student Centre this week As the organization has grown, it to plot out the direction of Canada’s has tackled the challenge of balanc- second largest post-secondary lob- ing the advocacy priorities of di- by organization. verse members. Sharma noted that Th e University of Calgary’s Stu- the nature of federal governance dents’ Union hosted the Canadian makes CASA’s size an asset rather Alliance of Student Associations than a liability. annual policy and strategy confer- “People say that it’s harder be- ence. Th e week-long event saw pre- cause we’re a national organiza- sentations on post-secondary issues tion, but I actually think it’s eas- as well as meetings setting the tone ier,” she said.